Joseph Hayes,
Assistant Steward, Empress of Ireland,
Sworn.
By Mr. Aspinall:
3478. Mr. Hayes, will you please try to speak up?
- Yes sir.
3478. Were you one of the assistant stewards in the third-class?
- Yes, I was.
3480. Chief assistant steward?
- Assistant steward.
3481. And were you turned in at the time of the collision?
- Yes, I was turned in.
3482. Did the blow or the shock wake you?
- Yes, it woke me.
3483. What did you do?
- I just slipped on a pair of trousers and slippers and got out into the alleyway. The stewards’ quarters go on to the working alleyway, and the stokehole also go on the same alleyway. When I got out it was filled with smoke and you could smell a nasty smell, the nasty smell that arises when you throw water on live coals, and I concluded I should go at once to my bulkhead door.
3484. Which one was that?
- Well I think the number is 78, but it is the door between the steerage dining-room and the steerage bedrooms on the starboard side.
3485. You operate that from where?
- From the same deck as the stewards’ quarters.
3486. And where is the door itself?
- On the deck below, between the steerage dining-room and the steerage quarters.
3487. Did you try to work it?
- I tried, but I could not close it because of the list.
3488. Which side of the ship was it on?
- On the starboard.
3489. And you would have to work it up hill?
- Yes.
3490. And you found you couldn’t?
- I couldn’t.
3491. And you hadn’t much time?
- No, sir.
3492. Well, what did you next do?
- I went up the main companion to the upper promenade deck, and I remained at the bottom of the companion from the upper promenade deck to the boat deck assisting a few passengers up . . . there were some ladies there . . . trying to keep a little order if possible. I remained there about four minutes, and then went on to the boat deck. The boats were getting loose by this time and there was a big list on.
3493. Which side of the boat deck did you go on?
- Port.
3494. Why?
- My boat No. 12 was there.
3495. Were you able to do any good there?
- No, sir.
3496. Eventually where did you go?
- To the starboard side to 11 or 13, I don’t know which.
3497. Did you succeed in getting it out?
- They did, with difficulty.
3498. And you got it into the water?
- Yes.
3499. And having got it into the water what was done?
- It just moved out a few yards, and picked up all the people that threw themselves in. There were only about two men in the boat then.
3500. When you got it into the water?
- The boat was lowered into the water and commenced picking up people.
3501. Did you fill it?
- It was really overcrowded.
3502. And then where did it go to?
- To the Storstad.
3503. And did it land the people?
- Yes, on the Storstad.
3504. And did you remain on the Storstad?
- Yes.
3505. You were a steward?
- Yes, but the boat went back with about six of the crew in.
3506. With about six of the sailors?
- Yes.
3507. And I suppose that is about all you can tell us?
- That is all, sir.
Mr. Haight:
I have no questions to ask.
Mr. Aspinall:
My Lord, I am going to call the Marconi man, Mr. Ferguson.